The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-12

luton, which was adopted, that strict se-
cresy In regard to tho proceedings be en-
forced on every member present. All the
same, the above 10 virtually what trans
PRED at the meeting.
| -<>>-
! DIR. CUNNINGuAM RESPONDS
To Bishop Ruins Letter oh "Wlnt Protest.
] nuts Believe"
To he Editor Of tie Intt!li1eneer.
SiE:-In my recent letter on "What
Pedestrians believe" my purpose was
simply to correct some statements which
were made in Bishop kain's lecture, and
which misrspreaented the teachings Of
Protestant Christianity. The Bishop re.
plies in your paper OF April s by saying,
III my conclusions and observations are
erroneous, shall be only too glad to re-
tract anything have said which reflects
anything on that SYSTEM" This Is Just
and honorable. The Romieh ana the
Protestant Bystems Of Christianity agree
on some OF the fundamental truths OF the
Gospel, and on some OF them they disa.
gree. These differences hsvo been stated
over and over again, and arguments on
both sides presented. Volumes have
been written and the points OF difference
defined, and yet the end has not been
reached. do not desire controversy;
desre only to preach the glorious gospel
Of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be the
means OF winning aouls to tho precious
Saviour; yet the truth according to our
Protestant Christisnity 10 80 very dear to-
me, that ! must speak, when it's teach
iugs are called in question.
wish to call attention to two things in
the Eishop's reply to my letter; first, he
Gays, "the question ;e, does the Protest
ant system Of private Interpretation OF the
Sc!i ptuses justify this tenacious adherence
TO any OF the revealed truths? Apart
from the unerrirg authority Of the Catho.
lie Church, how can the inspiration Of the
Bible DO satisfactorily proven?" OF course
We, as Professionals, take issue here, and
deay the unerring authority Of the Roman
Catholic Church, and claim the right OF
private judgment and interpretation Of
the Scriptures. We can readily bring
forth our arguments, but in this letter /
will only say this much, tho Bible is q
clear, plain book. Tho people can under
stand it, and they have the right and are
bpNAlu " lCEl Auh luktl plbl ~
eelves, 80 that their faith may rest on the
testimony OF the Scriptures, and not on
that OF the Church. Such is the doctrine
OF Protestau,s on this subject.
We DO not deny thst the Scriptures con-
tain many things hsrd to be understood;
that they require diligent study; that all
men need the guidance OF the Holy Spirit
in order to right knowledge and true faith.
But We maintain that in all things neces.
Bary to salvation they are sufficiently plain
to be understood by the unlesrned.
We do not deny that the people, learned
aud unlearned, In order to the proper IN.
lerstaudiug OF the Scriptures, should not
only diligently study the Word, and avail
themselves Of all the means in their power
TO assist them in their search alter the |
truth; but they should also pay the great
eat Difference to the iai!h OF the Church. !
II the Scriptures he plain book, and the |
Spirit performs the functions OF a teacher |
to oil the children Of God, it follows iney-
itably that thoy mnst asree In all essen,
t!Rl matters in their Interpretation OF the !
Bible. And from that fact 1t follows that |
for an individual Christian to dissent from
the faish OF the universal Church THAT is, |
the body o! true holiness is equivalent to
dissenting from tho Scriptures themselves.
What Professionals deny on this subject
is that Christ has appointed any officer, or
Glass OF officers, in His Church to whose
Interpretation OF the Scriptures the people
are bound to submit as OF final authority.
What they affirm ia that He has made it
obligatory upon every man to search the
Scriptures for himself and determine on
his discretion what they require him to
believe and To do. There are many sub.
sautial reasons and arguments which can
be given IN support OF this affirmation.
The second thing TO which | would
call attention, is whore the bishop says,
The Doctor quoted tho answer given in
the Shorter Cstechism to the question:
What is eiec.ual calling?' refer him
TO the answer given III tho Larger Gate.
ch!aEl. to the saine question, where We are
told that the elect, even when justified,
'are in themselves dead in SIM How
they can DO alive in Ghriut and partakers
o! His lite, and yet dead in sin, it is not
easy to comprehend" 1t is evident that
the Bishop haa mIsinterp:etea or mis-.
nnderstood III, answer to the question,
here Ia tho "Etlectuai calling ia
the work Of God's almighty power and
grace, whereby tout Of His iree and es.
pecn! love for His elect, md from nothing
in them moving Him thereto) He doth in
Ills accepted time invita- aad draw them
to Jesus Christ, by His word and spirit;
,avingly. cn!ightening their minds, renew.
ing and powerfully determining their
Wills, so As they (although in themselves
dead IN sim are hereby made willing and
able, freely TO answer llis call, and to &C.
cept and embrace the grace offered and
Conveyed thsyeiG,' Il
Now submit 10 any candid mind. does
the phrase in It's connection, although
in themselves dead in ain," refer to pcr.
Sons alter thoy have been Justified ?" 1t
ia as clear ~ MONDAY thu: il refers to per
Sons before they have been justified, DO. r
lore they have been removed and made
par'aketa OF Chriat'a iifo. II would he !
nonsense to nay that a nan ia yot "dead
in Binn," alter he Inns been justified; and
Am glad 10 say that tho answer in the
sntechlsn does not teach this.
Tte Bishop relers to tho contradictory I
enets adopted from the eame Bible BY '
le various forms OF Protestant Christi. !.
NIFTY, and gives the Unitarian in his de. !
linl oil the divinity OF Christ, as an illus.
ration. Tho Jew does not receive our
thirst rs hla Saviour; the Unitarian dc. Q
lies ltis divinity; how, then, can Uni a
Mlan DO u pfotestan. Christian2 The =
'arIouB evangelical denominations may Il
'lilur in non.eeeentals and minor matters, II
md may have different forms Of church G
they may appear ri flied I
N the surface ut times. like tho ocean 9
FAves, yet down in tho deep sea they arc 1t
nltea and undis,urbed md rest on tho u
old rock, IKE same foundation, Chriat
eans, their living Lord. Protestant
christians in thrr dilIore:,t dcnomin"
ons arc like u mighty army; they have
lc'r smaller companies and their rogi-
fonts, their briga.ins mil their divisions,
Ut they constitute ono grand, noble
fmy,-one In purpose, Quo in heart,
tHyfng Rnd following 'dna great eom-